SENT TO SEVILLE. Four games and four wins. Like Italy, at Euro 2020 there is only Belgium. What, moreover, he achieved all his successes within the 90 ‘. The last, the most suffered, is naturally also the most precious because he eliminates the reigning champion Portugal and is worth the place in the quarter-final on Friday night in Monaco, against Mancini’s blues. They celebrate, the Red Devils that between the European and World Championships is from 2014 that always arrive at least among the 8 best. The joy for the 1-0 in Sevilla, however, soon gave way to concern about the conditions of two of the three brightest stars available to coach Martinez. The only sane and sure one to be in front of Italy is Romelu Lukaku, against Ronaldo dry but the protagonist of a recovery of sacrifice and substance. Then, however, the situation is delicate as much for captain Eden Hazard, who has just returned after almost two nightmare years full of injuries, as well as for Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City all-rounder, owner of the last Premier.
It was he, just minutes from his 30th birthday dated June 28, who first worried Martinez. Touched hard from behind by Palhinha in the first half final, he surrendered in the 3 ‘of the second half. “He can’t bend his left ankle,” goalkeeper Courtois revealed at the end of the match. Big trouble. Like that of Hazard, who has not even managed to fully enjoy the decisive goal of his brother Thorgan, the pass for the quarters and even a personal performance back to his true talent levels. «He has a muscle problem but we are not yet sure what it is – admits Martinez -. It takes 48 hours to do all the necessary tests, but I really don’t know if he will be able to be there against Italy ». Courtois is much more pessimistic, or perhaps just a realist: «I fear that the European of Eden is over. Even if it were just a contracture, it would mean being out for 10 days. Yes, a miracle is needed ». Bad to say, but for Italy it is certainly not bad news. A Belgium with De Bruyne and Hazard is one thing, which not by chance is worth the first place in the FIFA world ranking, without losing much.